Is religion for thinking people or for people who want others to think for them...?

Question

I find that a lot of religious people are attracted to the aspect of having a "road map" for life... so that they don't have to take personal responsibility for their thoughts and actions... while it seems the minority actually think about the search for "truth"... and the want for peace and love in the world...

to "empenada" :

is that answer representative of your "fun side"?... 'cause I wouldn't want to miss it....

to "empanada"...again....

since you missed it... I didn't "assume" anything... and I'm not an aethiest... it's a question.... with an observation... from a point of view...

Answer 1

I wouldn't go so far as to call all religious people unthinking, but many are attracted to the idea of absolutes (morality, truth, etc.) that religion claims to offer. One of religion's original purposes was also to explain the unexplainable in ancient times before we had the scientific method or any substantial logic. Now that science has actually provided answers to many of those questions about our world, many theists still prefer to believe in the creation mythologies of their religion. Religion has a very strong emotional appeal that in many people can easily override their rational thinking, forcing faith and belief over any demands for evidence or logic, even when such evidence or logic would contradict their belief.

In addition to the above purposes, religion often provides a strong sense of community and social bonding for many people who otherwise wouldn't have as many opportunities for social networking. For some people, church is the high point of their social lives.

While not entirely inaccurate to say that religion is for people "who want others to think for them," I do think it's a bit of an oversimplification. Religion serves many purposes and although I'm a lifetime atheist, if I had the power I would not take peoples' religion away from them. Some people just wouldn't be able to get by without it.

Answer 2

I think it's neither and both at the same time. Religion is the instrument or the tool and what one does with it is up to the individual. You can choose to study it, learn the principles and even question it...this is what a thinking person does. I notice many people confuse the term "religion" with Christianity and the Bible. If you study different religions you find that many of the stories and parables in the Bible are the same among cultures only the characters change. In doing so, you start to learn that religion is designed to make you think, but in doing so it does provide that "blue-print" for living. My .02 worth.

Answer 3

there is an inverse correalation between relgiousity and intelligence. Admittedly it's some branch of a science that produces all these reports that state that and while the results are unquestionable the bias to do such studies is obvious.

however while i like your road map idea if i go on my own culture the thing that puts bums on seats most in a church seems to me to be fear of death. this is proabaly relevant as the 'thinking people' may be more likely to find a way to reconcile thier lives without reliance on faith.

Answer 4

Isaac Newton was quite religious. Obviously he wasn't a "thinking person".

To Jake: Since you missed it, I'm mocking your assumption that atheism is the correct path for "thinking" people, despite the fact that the pillars of science and western thought in general were, by a large majority, a very religious group. Doubly ironic is the fact that you paint religion as a tool to satisfy some lower-level psychological need (i.e. a "road map" for the mindless), whereas atheism itself has created its own religiously moral constructs (see secular humanism) designed to specifically parallel religion.

To answer more directly: No. Your characterization or religion is simply incorrect and your assumptions (i.e. that the "minority" wants for peace and love in the world) are also incorrect. One only has to look at how peaceful and loving the USSR and China (both Godless societies) were.

Answer 5

Good religion is the kind that points you back towards and awakens your teacher within. Most people use religion as a support group. The preacher tells them what they need to know for the moment, but he/she should be discovering the truth within themselves. Too many preachers like the power trip.

Answer 6

It can, and should be both. When you lose your way and need a helping hand, religion shiould be there for you to help get you back on the right path. it should also be there for you when everything is going well, allowing you to share the wonderful message it has with others that need a guiding hand.

Answer 7

I hope the first starting point is obvious: the Bible. To think in a Christian manner, we have to understand what God says, to fully assimilate his word into ourselves. It is our ultimate source, the test for all of our thinking. We need to go often to the primary source.

That's the starting point. We never graduate from it. The Bible meets us at whatever depth of questioning, whatever level of wisdom or understanding, we are prepared to bring to it; and it will always take us beyond where we thought we were. It's a basic primer on true religion, and it's a postdoctoral text in living real life. It's the place to base your Christian thinking.

Answer 8

Issac Newton was "quite" religious??? You are or your aren't. You can't have 80% faith. Its 100% or it isn't faith!

People find religion convieniet and nessecary as some people need there to be and explanation for everything. Like "why are we here"?

I dont think its anything at all to do with not wanting to take responsibility..... although in the case of Islamic extremists and the killing of innocent children then yes I see what your saying!

Answer 9

Religion/faith based folks are in some respects lazy. Acceptance of that dogma is an easy way to see the Universe.
I don't think that it is correct, but to each his own.
We are free to believe anything that we want to believe.

Answer 10

Read Thomas Aquinas.